As two international hockey tournaments came to a close last week, four Sudbury Wolves returned to the city with medals hanging around their necks.
Captain Marcus Foligno, playing with Team Canada at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Buffalo, N.Y., brought home a silver medal, while Team Ontario members Mathew Campagna and Brody Silk, along with athletic therapist Dan Buckland, brought home gold from the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Winnipeg.
As the Wolves welcomed the players home at their game against the Barrie Colts on Friday night, Foligno was greeted with a standing ovation.
While winning the silver may not have been the ending Foligno and Team Canada were after, the Wolves captain said it was still an “unbelievable” experience. “It was a tough ending, but to be named to Team Canada and to be able to play in Buffalo (my hometown) was unbelievable,” he said.
Advancing through to the championship game, Team Canada led the game 3-0 going into the final frame. But then the Russians made a comeback unlike any other in World Junior hockey history, taking the game 5-3.
“I think we sat back a little bit too much with a team that’s been so dangerous in the previous two games before us,” Foligno said. “They had a lot of success in their third period with their comebacks.
Hopefully I can wear (the maple leaf) again...I’d do anything to wear it again.
Mathew Campagna,
Team Ontario
“We still played a good game, I thought. It was tough the way the Russians came back, but you’ve got to give credit to them.”
In game one of the preliminary round against Russia, Foligno was the first to find the scoresheet for Team Canada.
“The first goal for our team and for the tournament is something special that I’ll never forget.”
While he said playing in front of nearly 20,000 fans was nerve-racking, he said “you have to use it to your advantage.”
“Use the excitement and the atmosphere, it gets you pumped up and makes you want to play harder,” he said.
As for the rookies at the U-17 tournament, Campagna embraced the opportunity to play with athletes his own age.
Described as a sniper on HockeyCanada.ca, Campagna — the Wolves’ first round pick in the OHL priority draft — was among the leaders on Team Ontario with four goals and three assists throughout the tournament.
Playing the United States in the championship game, Campagna stole the spotlight in the final period, as he stepped up to take a penalty shot for a teammate downed on a breakaway.
With the arena roaring with more than 13,000 cheering fans, Campagna maintained his poise, tucking the puck in the net for Ontario’s fifth goal in the 5-3 victory.
Despite his calm demeanor, Campagna said it wasn’t easy. “You hear the people already screaming before you’re going. I just said to myself, ‘Sound them out, see what happens, and just be confident with myself and just go with the flow.’”
While winning the gold was the ultimate prize, Campagna said just putting on the Canada symbol was an honour in itself. “Being a part of a world event is rare. Hopefully I can wear (the maple leaf) again ... I’d do anything to wear it again.”
Silk, the Wolves second-round draft pick, said the U-17 tournament is “by far the biggest thing” he’s done in his hockey career.
“It was definitely a great experience, being chosen...to compete for your province,” he said. “I learned I could compete against the best 1994s around the world.”
Fifteen seconds into Team Ontario’s game against Western Canada in the preliminary round, Silk found the back of the net on the team’s first offensive rush, leading the way for Ontario’s 4-3 victory. He said he hopes to use that momentum to improve his offensive game with the Wolves.
“I didn’t get off to a great start so I want to change that around,” he said.
While Foligno, Campagna and Silk battled it out on the world’s stage, back in Sudbury, Wolves head coach Trent Cull was watching his players with pride.
“I’m ecstatic for the kids,” he said. “I think it’s been really good for the younger guys to go away to Under-17.
“I’m happy first of all that they got selected — it means we’re doing good things here,” he added. “But for them to go and succeed and be a vital part of it, I think it’s a great job.”
As for Foligno, Cull said the Wolves’ captain set a shining example.
“From a guy who’s gone from relatively almost an unknown in the Canadian World Junior plans, he has a great start of the year for us, then goes there and not only did he play his role very well, but I think he represented us very well. He was a great team player and provided in all areas I thought.”
